Mark Bunker

He changed the city charter to allow ADUs, championed body cameras for Clearwater police, kept affordable housing on track during COVID, and helped launch the North Greenwood revival.

Mark Bunker is an Emmy Award-winning journalist and filmmaker . He won the Pacific Southwest Emmy in 2006 for investigative reporting on San Diego border issues. He founded Xenu TV in 1999, and moved to Clearwater in 2000 to work with the Lisa McPherson Trust — taking on the Church of Scientology in its own backyard. For more than 25 years, he has stood with people who have been abused and defrauded. In 2020, Mark was elected to the Clearwater City Council in a historic win. He was the first candidate openly critical of Scientology to hold a council seat in decades. He served as Vice Mayor from 2023 to 2024. Coachman Park was transformed with the $84M Sound amphitheater. Gotham began building 400 apartments downtown. A boutique hotel is opening. Every one of those wins came despite Scientology's interference. They've held downtown hostage for decades — making promises to get what they want, then walking away the moment the cameras leave. They lie. They run front groups. The only way to stop them is to name them and fight back — out loud, every time. Scientology was not Mark's only focus. He changed the city charter to allow ADUs, championed body cameras for Clearwater police, kept affordable housing on track during COVID, and helped launch the North Greenwood revival. In 2024 he narrowly lost reelection — now he's running for Seat 5 to finish the work. 1999 Founded Xenu TV Launched the YouTube channel and website documenting Scientology abuses —

Mark answers to the voters of Clearwater. That only works if the voters fund the campaign.

Mark answers to the voters of Clearwater. That only works if the voters fund the campaign. Contribute Today Clearwater City Council Mark Bunker Seat 5 Candidate · Aug 18, 2026 Emmy 2006 Vice Mayor 2023–2024 25+ Years in Clearwater Journalist Filmmaker Independent About Mark

For fifty years, Scientology has been quietly taking over downtown Clearwater. What began in 1975 with the secret purchase of the Fort Harrison Hotel is now a majority of the commercial real estate on Cleveland Street — much of it intentionally kept dark and empty.

For fifty years, Scientology has been quietly taking over downtown Clearwater. What began in 1975 with the secret purchase of the Fort Harrison Hotel is now a majority of the commercial real estate on Cleveland Street — much of it intentionally kept dark and empty. Locals call it what it is: an occupation. Mark Bunker has spent three decades standing in the way. He founded Xenu TV in 1999, moved to Clearwater in 2000 to help the people Scientology had hurt, earned a Pacific Southwest Emmy for investigative reporting, contributed to Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath , and in 2020 became the first openly anti-Scientology candidate to win a Clearwater City Council seat in decades. For four years, every Scientology-adjacent vote was a public fight. When Mark lost reelection in 2024, the fights went quiet. Within eleven months the new council reversed course on the record. On April 21, 2026, Scientology cut a ribbon downtown to celebrate what Tony Ortega called a "hostile takeover." Clearwater needs Mark back. Seat 5 on August 18, 2026 is the fight. → The full press record → Mark's response to the "grand opening" What's Happening

Tony Ortega's April 21 Underground Bunker coverage of Scientology's downtown showroom opening — with commentary from Mark. Read all coverage → Track Record

Tony Ortega's April 21 Underground Bunker coverage of Scientology's downtown showroom opening — with commentary from Mark. Read all coverage → Track Record

Civic watchdogs move fast to stop a county decision that would have benefited Scientology interests.

Civic watchdogs move fast to stop a county decision that would have benefited Scientology interests. March 27, 2026 Read → Florida Politics

Container mall opening in North Greenwood. Low-overhead spaces to revive a once-thriving business district.

Container mall opening in North Greenwood. Low-overhead spaces to revive a once-thriving business district.

Sidewalks, lighting, drainage, internet.

Sidewalks, lighting, drainage, internet. North Greenwood and the whole north-of-Gulf-to-Bay corridor, not just downtown. 05

First to call for body cameras for Clearwater police.

First to call for body cameras for Clearwater police. Invaluable for citizens, officers, and recruit training alike.